The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 190: 357-358. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.022590
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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SHORT REPORTS

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response in borderline personality disorder without post-traumatic features

Jose L. Carrasco, MD, Marina Díaz-Marsá, MD, Jose I. Pastrana, MD, Rosa Molina, MD, Loreto Brotons, MD and María I. López-Ibor, MD

Biological Psychiatry Research Programme, Complutense University, Madrid

Juan J. López-Ibor, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

Correspondence: Jose L. Carrasco, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. c/Martin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Email: jcarrasco.hcsc{at}salud.madrid.org

Declaration of interest None.

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis sensitivity was investigated in 32 non-medicated patients with borderline personality disorder without comorbid post-traumatic syndromes and in 18 normal individuals using a modified dexamethasone suppression test (0.25 mg). Enhanced cortisol suppression was found in the patients v. controls (P<0.05) and the percentage of participant's with non-suppression was smaller in the patient (34%) than in the control group (89%) (P<0.01). Baseline cortisol levels in the patients were also lower than in the controls (P<0.05). The 0.25 mg dexamethasone suppression test reveals increased feedback inhibition of the HPA in borderline personality disorder.


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